Closure mechanism



Aug. 8, 19444 H. G. SKALLER CL DSURE MECHANISM F'iled Nov. 2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Aug. 8, 1944. H. e. SKALLER 2,355,475

CLOSURE MECHANISM Filed Nov. 2, 1942 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Ea l4 Tiq..3

M mi 1;

A II ===2=======s==e============= 5% I Iiflli II ,5 37 g 1 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE oLosurzi Mfizz nAmsM I 'HansIGeorge SkallenFlushing, N. Yqassignor to I I v i The Hospital Supply Company, New York, N. Y., a copartnership composed of Leon L. Watters and William G. Waiters Application November 2, 1942, Serial No.'464,31 1

2 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and improved closure mechanism for sterilizers and other apparatus.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved construction, in order greatly to lower the cost of manufacture, and to produce a'more simple and eflicient device.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sterilizer with a hinged door which has a main casting slidably connected thereto, said main casting having a series of pairs of lugs, each pair of lugs having a locking bar turnably associated therewith.

By means of the improved construction, the locking means for the door consist essentiallyof a main casting, two supplemental castings and a series of pivoted locking bars. By pivotally connecting such locking bars to a single'main casting which can be made very cheaply, I greatly lower the cost of construction and increase the efliciency of the device.

Other objects of the invention will be disclosed in the annexed description and drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved device, taken on the line I-I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the details of the hinge of the door.

Fig. 4 is a partial top'plan view which illus-' trates a-detail of the locking mechanism.

The invention is shown as applied to a conventional sterilizer of the type which is used in hospitals for sterilizing various objects, such as hand ages, towels, etc. The articles are sterilized in such devices, by means of steam, and it 'isnecessary to provide closure means for conveniently locking the door of such sterilizer, in an air-tight and steam-tight manner.

As shown in Fig. 2, the sterilizer comprises an inner shell I and an outer shell 2, according to the standard construction. These shells I and 2 are made of any suitable metal or-alloy. A rigid metal ring 3 is located adjacent the open front end of the sterilizer, between the shells I and 2. Said rigid metal ring 3 is connected at 4 to the outer shell 2 by means of 'spot welding or in any other suitable manner. A gasket 5 tightly fills the space between the ring 3 and the adjacent cylindrical walls of the shells I and 2. The door 6, which is made of rigid metal, is provided at its inner face with the usual supplemental wall which 'is connected to said door 6 by means of other hubs I'S are left open.

screws or other fastening members '8. This supplemental innerwall -'I is conventional, and its purpose is to provide an enclosed 'air space at the inner face of 'thedoor 6.

An angle iron 8, Whose flange Ill is of continuous cylindrical shape, is connected to the outer shell Z in anysuitable manner, as by spot welding, along the lines II and I2. For convenience, the device will'be described with reference to the "horizontal position of the common longitudinalaxis of the cylindrical shells I and 2. Said angle iron B'therefore has a vertical annular flange 14. e

Aseries of rigid metal loops 1 5, which are spaced equally from 'each'o'ther, are connected to the vertical'flange I4. As shown more particularly in Fig. '2 and also in Fig. 4, each -of these loops I5 is provided with'para'llel legs or shanks, Whose inner ends areexternally threaded. These externally threaded shank's extentl through suitable respective openings the vertical flange I I. These legs are fixed to said flange M by means of nuts ISandI'I. v

The principal part =of "the apparatus is a main casting-I8, whose inner face is provided with hollow hubs I'9.- There may be an number of these hubs I94 In this embodiment there are six "of these hubs I9, which are spaced equally ironiea'chother. This casting I8 is longitudinally slidable upon a suitable number of solid guide rods 20. Each longitudinal guide rod 20 is located in the' longitudinal' bore of a respective hub I9. The bore of each hub l9 extends to the outer 'face 'o'f the-casting l8.

This embodiment discloses the use of only two of these guide rods 20,so that the bores of the However, I can use any suitable number'of said solid guide rods 20, each-of which is of cylindrical shape. Each guide =r0d-'2l l'-is provided at its inner end with a reducedextension ZI. Each reduced extension 2I extends through a respective bore of the door 'GAZAn annular sealing gasket 22 is associated with the respective reduced extensions 21. Each reduced extension -2| passes through a suitable bore or opening of "the gasket 22. The inner endportion of eachextensionfl is externally threaded. Each guide rod '20 has'a shoulder at its junction with the respective reduced extension 2i. Eachsaidshould'er abuts the outer face of a supplemental casting Z3,whose base is'of cylindrical shape. I

v The gasket 2'2 is maintained in compressed condition, so as to provide an air-tight and steamtight closure b'etween thebase of the casting 23 the respective pair of pivot lugs 39.

fixed relative to door 6.

The interior of the supplemental casting 23 is provided with the usual anti-friction bearing,

which comprises the ball races 25 and theanti friction balls 21.

An externally threaded rod or shaft 28 fits in a bore of the outer wall of the hollow supplemental casting 23. Said shaft 28 has an unthreaded inner extension 29, which has a reduced end-portion which is externally threaded. Said' unthreaded extension 29 is turnable relative to casting 23 and it fits in the bores of the annular races 26. The assembly is completed by-means of a nut 30 and the usual lock washer 3 I. The inner race 26, which abuts lock washer 3|, turns freely in unison with shaft 28, relative to the casting 23, which is held fixed to door 6.

At its outer end, each guide rod 20 is provided with a reduced extension 32. Each said reduced extension 32 is externally threaded at its outer end-portion. A second supplemental casting 33 is provided with bores through which the reduced extensions 32 respectively extend. The assembly between said'extensions 32 and 'said second supplemental casting 33 is completed by means of cap nuts 34 and lock washers 35. The casting 33 is thus held fixed against the shoulders which are provided at the outer ends of rods 29. Said shaft 28 has an'unthreaded outer extension 29 which fits turnably in a suitable bearing-bore of the second supplemental casting33.

Externally to said secondsupplemental casting 33, said reduced extension 29 is externally threaded. An operatinghandle 36 is fixed to a nut 31, which isscrewed upon the respective'externally threaded end-portion of the reduced'extension 29. The assembly is completedby a pin 38, which passes through said nut 31 and through the respective externally threadedportion of the extension 29.

The externally threaded shaft 28 is located, in a correspondingly tapped bore of the main casting '8. j I V 7 Hence, by rotating the handle 36 around the central longitudinal axis of the externally threaded shaft 28, said casting; is moved longitudinally, in a sliding movement along the guide rods 20, forward or backward, towards or away from the door 6. The main casting I8 is prevented from turning around the central longitudinal axis of the externally threaded shaft 28, by means of the guide rods 29.

In Fig. 2, the full-line position of the-casting l8 shows the position in which the door is held closed under suitable force. The broken-line position of the casting |8 which is shown in Fig. 2, illustrates the position-of said casting H3 in which the door can be freely opened.

The main casting I8 is provided with a series of pairs of separated pivot-lugs 39. These lugs are located inwardly of the peripheral flange 49 of the casting l8. The device has a series of locking bars 4|. In this particularembodiment, I have shown ten of such locking bars 4|, but I can use any desired number. The angular spacing between these locking bars 4| is equal throughout. Each locking bar 4| has its lower end-portion movably fitted between the separated lugs 39 of a respective pair of said lugs 39. A pivot pin 42 turnably connects each locking bar 4| to Since the inner end-portion of each locking bar 4| fits closely but'turnably between' a pair of lugs 39, said lugs guide the turning movements of said bars. Each locking bar 4| is provided with the usual torsion spring 43, which biases the respective locking bar 4| to turn towards the door 6.

Referring to Fig. 2, the top locking bar 4| which is shown :in s'aid'figure is thus biased to turn counterclockwise, and the bottom locking bar 4| which is [shown in said figure is biased to turn clockwise.

The inner faces of the outer end-portions of the locking bars 4| are thus held at all times in contact with the outer face of the door 6. Adjacent its outer end, the inner face of each locking bar 4| has a cam portion 44, which always abuts the outer face of the door 6.

The outer end of each locking bar 4| is shaped so as to enter a respective loop |5, when the casting I8 is moved to the full-line position of Fig. 2. When the casting I8 is in its inoperative position which is shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, the radial outer ends of the locking bars 4| are spaced from the respective loops or hookmembers |5.

In this embodiment, the door is connected by a hinge to the casing. 7

As shown in Fig. 1, a first hinge member is fixed to the door 6, by means of bolts 46. As shown in Fig. 3, the inner end of the shank of each bolt 45 may be fixed to the door 6 in a steam-tight and air-tight manner,- by means of spot Welding 41. Th hinge member 45 may be a casting.

A seccndhinge member 48, which may also be a casting, is fixed to the respective part of they annular flange M of the'angle iron 9, by means of bolts or other fastening members 49. The second hinge member-48 is provided with the usual cylindrical cars '50, and the first hinge member 45 is provided withthe usual corresponding cylindrical ears 5!. In the assembled device, the ears 50 and 5| have a common vertical longitudinal axis. Said ears 5|) and 5| are turnably'connected by'means of the usual hinge pintle 52, whose end-portions are externally threaded. Nuts 53 are screwed upon said externally threaded end-portions ofth pintle 52, thus completing th assembly of the hinge.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When it is desired to open the door by turning it around the longitudinal axis of the hinge pintle 52, the locking bar 38 is turned counterclockwise, thus sliding the main casting 8 from the full-line position to the broken-line position which is shown in Fig. 2. The locking bars 4| are thus wholly released from the loops |5, and the door can easily be turned either to the open or to the closed position. The cam surfaces 44 then abut door 6, and said bars 4| are then free from members l5.

Afterthe sterilizer has been packed, the door 6 is turned to the closing position, until it abuts the gasket 5. The locking bar or handle 36 is then turned clockwise, thus longitudinally sliding the main casting Hi from the broken-line position which is shown in Fig- 2, inwardly to the full-line position which is shown. in Fig. 2. During this inward sliding and non-turning movement of the main casting 8, the tapered end-portions of the locking bars 4| enter the loops l5 and the outer end-portions of said looking bars 4! exert suitable wedging or cam pressure against the loops l5 and also against the door 6, thus compressing the gasket 5, in order to provide the desired final air-tight and steamtight sealing closure.

The pitch of the external threading of the rod or shaft 28 is suitably small, so that the door 6 remains self-locked in said closed and sealing position.

After the sterilization has been completed, the locking bar or looking handle 36 is turned counterclockwise, thus sliding the casting l8 from the full-line position, which is shown in Fig. 2, to th broken-line position which is shown in Fig. 2.

The member It may be designated as a peripheral member which is fixed to the casing |2. The member 23 may be designated as an inner bearing member, and the member 33 may be designated as an outer bearing member.

I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from its spirit.

I claim:

1. A casing which has an opening, a peripheral member located external to said casing and fixed to the outer wall of said casing, a door shaped to close said opening, hinge-members turnably connected to each other and fixed respectively to said peripheral member and to the outer face of said door, a first bearing member which is external to said door, a sealing gasket abutting the outer face of said door and also abutting the respective adjacent face of said first bearing member, guide rods which have extensions which extend through respective alined bores of said door and of said first bearing member and of said gasket, said guide rods having clamping shoulders which abut said first bearing member, fastening members located on said extensions inwardly of said door and clamping said shoulders of said guide rods against said first bearing member and clamping said gasket between the outer face of said door and said respective adjacent face of said first bearing member, a one-piece slide which has bores through which said guide rods extend, said slide being located between said first bearing member and a second bearing member, said second bearing member being fixed to said guide rods, said bearing members and said slide having respective aligned openings in which a shaft is turnably located, said shaft being turnably connected to said first bearing member, said shaft and the respective bore of said slide having corresponding threadings so that the turning of said shaft actuates said slide slidably on said guide rods towards or away from said door, said slide having respective pairs of pivot lugs, locking rods, each locking rod having one end-portion thereof located between and turnably connected to a respective pair of pivot lugs, spring means biasing the respective free end-portions of said respective locking rods to contact with the outer face of said door, hook members fixed to said peripheral member, the free end-portion of each rod being located to enter a respective hook member when said slide is moved slidably on said guide rods in a direction towards said door, said free end-portions of said locking rods being tapered to force said door to closing position when said free end-portions enter said respective hookmembers, said slide being slidable in a direction away from said door until said free endportions clear said hook-members.

2. In combination, a casing which has an opening, a closure door for said opening, said door being turnably connected to said casing, guide means fixed to said door and extending longitudinally outwardly from the outer face of said door, a one-piece slide mounted on said guidemeans and slidable longitudinally on said guidemeans towards or away from the outer face of said door, a turnable shaft which extends through a bore of said slide, the wall of said bore of said slide having a thread and said shaft having an outer thread which meshes with the thread of said wall of said bore, a first bearing which is fixed to the outer face of said door, a second bearing, said slide being located between said first bearing and said second bearing, means fixing said second bearing to said door, said shaft having unthreaded parts which extend through respective openings of said bearings, said shaft being turnably connected to said first bearing, said guide means preventing said slide from turning relative to said door, said shaft being immovable in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis, said slide having pairs of pivot lugs, locking rods, each locking rod having one endportion thereof located turnably between the separated lugs of a respective pair of said pivot lugs of said slide, each rod having spring means which bias its other end-portion to contact with the outer face of said door, hook-members located externally to said casing and fixed to said casing, the outer end-portion of said locking rods entering said hook-members and abutting said hook-members as well as the outer face of the door when said slide is moved in a direction towards said door to a predetermined position, said outer end-portions being cam-shaped to exert closing pressure on said door.

, HANS GEORGE SKALLER. 

